On Barton’s arrival at Jamaica he found all things in a very different condition from what he had flattered himself with.  His father was dead and the woman who went over with him settled in a good plantation, ’tis true, but so settled that Will was unable to remove her; so he betook himself to sea again, and rubbed on the best way he was able.  But as if the vengeance of Heaven had pursued him, or rather as if Providence, by punishments, designed to make him lay aside his vices, Barton had no sooner scraped a little money together, but the vessel in which he sailed was (under the usual pretence of contraband goods) seized by the Spaniards, who not long after they were taken, sent the men they made prisoners into Spain.  The natural moroseness of those people’s temper, makes them harsh masters.  Poor Barton found it so, and with the rest of his unfortunate companions, suffered all the inconveniences of hard usage and low diet, though as they drew nearer the coast of Spain that severity was a little softened.

When they were safely landed, they were hurried to a prison where it was difficult to determine which was worst, their treatment or their food.  Above all the rest Barton was uneasy, and his head ever turned towards contriving an escape.  When he and some other intriguing heads had meditated long in vain, an accident put it in their power to do that with ease which all their prudence could not render probable in the attempt, a thing common with men under misfortune, who have reason, therefore, never to part with hope.

Finding an old wall in the outer court of the prison weak, and ready to fall down, the keeper caused the English prisoners, amongst others, to be sent to repair it.  The work was exceedingly laborious, but Barton and one of his companions soon thought of a way to ease it.  They had no sooner broke up a small part of the foundation which was to be new laid, but stealing the Spanish soldiers’ pouches, they crowded the powder into a small bag, placing it underneath as far as they could reach, and then gave it fire.  This threw up two yards of the wall, and while the Spaniards stood amazed at the report, Barton and his associates marched off through the breach, without finding the slightest resistance from any of the keeper’s people, though he had another party in the street.

But this would have signified very little, if Providence had not also directed them to a place of safety by bringing them as soon as they broke out of the door to a monastery.  Thither they fled for shelter, and the religious of the place treated them with much humanity.  They succoured them with all necessary provision, protected them when reclaimed by the gaoler, and taking them into their service, showed them in all respects the same care and favour they did to the rest of their domestics.

Yet honest labour, however recompensed, was grating to these restless people, who longed for nothing but debauchery, and struggled for liberty only as a preparative to the indulging of their vices; and so they began to contrive how they should free themselves from hence.  Barton and his fellow engineer were not long before they fell on a method to effect it, by wrenching open the outer doors in the night, and getting to an English vessel that lay in the harbour ready to sail.